Adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers



May 25, 1965 F. v. GATTUSO ADJUSTABLE AND DETACHABLE, LOWER ABDOMINAL SUPPORT FOR TROUSERS Filed Feb. 13, 1963 FIG.2

FRANCIS V. GATTUSO BY W FIG. 3

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,185,158 ADJUSTABLE AND DETACHABLE, LOWER ABDOMINAL SUPPORT FOR TROUSERS Francis V. Gattuso, 225 Main St., Belleville, NJ. Filed Feb. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 258,315 3 Claims. (Cl. 128519) My invention relates to garments generally and specifically to an adjustable and detachable lower abdominal support for trousers.

Relatively early in life, both men and women develop a distended lower abdomen. The distension is a consequence of either or both of weak lower abdominal muscles and excessive fat deposits. The distension is not only cosmetically unsightly, but, when unsupported, also uncomfortable resulting in a feeling of weight and fullness in the chest and abdomen. Some person attribute such constitutional difficulties as constipation, flatulence, back pain and kindred ailments to lack of support of the front, lower abdominal wall.

While physiological ailments attributed to unsupported lower abdominal muscles may be a matter of medical debate, it is nevertheless true that a protruding lower abdomen is unsightly and contributes to an appearance of poor health and age. Many mens trousers are provided with a relatively narrow and short cross-tab immediately beneath the belt-line at the front of the trouser opening. However, this expedient is totally insuflicient to contain even the smallest distension. The result is that the top of the trousers are pulled out of shape, wrinkles appear and pleats are expanded and their stitches quickly broken. The problem is even more severe for women than men since women normally have Weaker abdominal muscles. In addition, while pregnant or immediately after delivery, a womans lower abdomen is particularly distended.

Therefore, it is among the objects and advantages of my invention to provide an adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers comprising two detachable, elongated, generally rectangular webs secured respectively to the opposed side seams of the trouser and adapted to extend forwardly around the lower abdomen, attaching together at the front center.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers in which means are provided for adjusting the contour of each web by means of opposed lacing tabs formed integrally with the web.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ad justable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers in which each web is provided with an elasticized wedge in its bottom longitudinal edge to insure breathing comfort.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers which extends downwardly from the belt-line to cover substantially the entire lower abdominal wall.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers which is fabricated of a relatively heavy, nonstretching material having stiffening stays secured thereto to prevent rolling or cupping.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers which is secured to the trouser only at the opposed side seams thereof to insure that the trouser hangs properly and that stresses placed on the webs are transferred to the trouser.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers which may be centrally attached and detached ice without disturbing the contour of each web fitted to the contour of the body of the wearer.

Still yet another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers which may be made an integral part of the trouser or made as an addition thereto to be quickly and easily sewed into place if and when desired.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by my invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of my adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support secured to a pair of trousers and centrally detached;

FIGURE 2 is a top edge view of one web of the support;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the web shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support comprises two centrally attachable and detachable webs, 12 and 13. Each web is fabricated from a generally rectangular, elongated piece of relatively heavy, non-stretchable material, one end of which is sewn into the side seam of the trouser immediately beneath the belt line. Intermediate the ends of each of the webs, 12 and 13, there are a pair of generally vertical, opposed but separated lacing tabs, 14 and 15. The lacing tabs 14 and 15 are each provided with a plurality of eyelets 16 alranged in a vertical row. Each of the said lacing tabs is formed by looping the web vertically and stitching the loop together at its bottom. Laces 17, 17 are passed alternately through the opposed eyelets 16 of the tabs 14 and 15 and tied together at the top or bottom. Of course, the lace may be pulled more tightly in one place than in another to provide a contour fit over the abdomen.

Intermediate the ends of each web 12 and 13, there is provided an elasticized wedge 18 along the bottom edge. The wedge when unstretched produces a flat web but may stretch to allow free breathing.

The inside end of web 12 is provided with a vertical row of female snap-fasteners 19. Similarly, the inside end of web 13 is provided with a vertical row of complementary male snap-fasteners adapted to receive the female fasteners to secure the respective webs 12 and 13 together at their inner ends.

In operation, the webs 12 and 13 may be secured to the opposed side seams of the trousers immediately beneath the belt-line either as an integral part thereof when first manufactured or as an addition after the trousers have been sold. The webs 12 and 13 are dimensioned to extend downwardly to cover substantially all the lower abdomen. The webs 12 and 13 are detached along their inside ends when the trousers are donned and are refastened over the abdomen when the trousers are in place. The lace 17 on each web 12 and 13 is pulled to cause the web to conform to the contour of the abdomen on its side. Since the webs 12 and 13 are secured to the trouser only at the side seams, the entire front thereof is free from any stress and can hang naturally. The lower abdomen is firmly supported but breathing is not restricted.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being within the Patented May 25, 1 965 scope of the appended claims, although they are not specifically catalogued herein.

I claim:

1. An adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal .sup-

port for trousers comprising:

(a) a pair of trousers,

(b) a pair of unitary generally non-stretching webs, each web being secured at one end to the trousers in proximity to one of the interior side seams thereof,

(c) means on eachunitary web for differentially adjusting the contour thereof, and

(d) means on the inside end of each unitary web opposite the interior seam of the trousers adapted to cooperatively engage to secure the respective webs together.

2. An adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers comprising,

(a) a pair of trousers,

(b) a pair of elongated, generally rectangular unitary, non-stretching webs, each web being secured at one end to the trousers in proximity to one of the interior side seams thereof,

(c) a pair of generally vertical, vertically spaced apart opposed lacing tabs on each web, each tab having a generally vertical row of eyelets secured thereto,

(d) a lace passing through alternate, opposed eyelets on the tabs on each web, and

(e) cooperative fasteners on the inside end of each web adapted to secure the webs together.

3. An adjustable and detachable, lower abdominal support for trousers comprising,

(a) a pairof trousers,

(b) a pair of elongated, generally rectangular, unitary non-stretching webs, each web being secured at one end to the trousers in proximity to one of the interior side seams thereof, the webs extending downwardly to cover substantiallythe entire lower abdomen,

(c) a pair of generally vertical, vertically spaced apart opposed lacing tabs on each web formed from stitched loops in the web, each tab having a generally vertical row of eyelets secured thereto,

(d) a lace passing through alternate, opposed eyelets onthe tabs on each web adapted to differentially adjust the contour of the web,

(e) an elasticized wedge on the lower longitudinal edge of each web, and

(f) cooperative fasteners on the inside end of each web adapted to detachably secure the webs together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,370 7/90 Rogers 128-531 1,230,650 6/17 Baugatz 128-558 2,481,396 9/49 Cohen 1285l9 LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

ADELE M. EAGER, Examiner. 

2. AN ADJUSTABLE AND DETACHABLE, LOWER ABDOMINAL SUPPORT FOR TROUSERS COMPRISING, (A) A PAIR OF TROUSERS, (B) A PAIR OF ELONGATED, GENERALLT RECTANGULAR UNITARY, NON-STRETCHING WEBS, EACH WEB BEING SECURED AT ONE END TO THE TROUSERS IN PROXIMITY TO ONE OF THE INTERIOR SIDE SEAMS THEREOF, (C) A PAIR OF GENERALLY VERTICAL, VERTICALLY SPACED APART OPPOSED LACING TABS ON EACH WEB, EACH TAB HAVING A GENERALLY VERTICAL ROW OF EYELETS SECURED THERETO, (D) A LACE PASSING THROUGH ALTERNATE, OPPOSED EYELETS ON THE TABS ON EACH, WEB, AND (E) COOPERATIVE FASTENERS ON THE INSIDE END OF EACH WEB ADAPTED TO SECURE THE WEBS TOGETHER. 